A brand-new daffodil variety named after one of England’s most historic homes will be unveiled this spring at Hever Castle in Kent, marking the start of a week-long celebration of the flower across the estate’s famous gardens.
The bespoke ‘Hever Castle’ daffodil will be officially launched on Monday, 16th March during the opening of the castle’s annual Dazzling Daffodils event, which runs until 22nd March and showcases more than 250,000 daffodil blooms across the grounds.
Once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the historic estate is widely regarded as one of the UK’s finest daffodil gardens. The new variety has been specially grown for the castle by Taylors Bulbs of Lincolnshire and is distinguished by its bright golden trumpet – a colour inspired by the historic plantings introduced to the estate more than a century ago.
Head gardener Neil Miller said the flower reflects a legacy dating back to the castle’s most influential garden creator, William Waldorf Astor.
“The ‘Hever Castle’ daffodil is a truly magnificent specimen with a bright golden trumpet,” Miller said. “Its colour immediately reminded me of the bright yellows loved by William Waldorf Astor, who transformed the estate with daffodils over 120 years ago. It feels very special to be continuing that story today with this new introduction that is so aptly named.”
Astor, a billionaire philanthropist who redeveloped the gardens in the early 20th century, famously planted large numbers of daffodils across the estate, favouring classic trumpet varieties such as the iconic King Alfred daffodil. Many of those historic bulbs are still flowering today.
The new daffodil launch will be hosted by Miller alongside renowned daffodil grower Johnny Walkers, who has won 25 consecutive gold medals for his blooms at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Walkers has worked with the castle’s gardening team for the past eight years, helping expand the estate’s daffodil displays.
“Every visit to Hever is a delight,” he said. “Leading tours through Anne Boleyn’s Orchard where rare, old and new daffodils bloom is always special. The ‘Hever Castle’ daffodil feels like a real milestone in what we’ve been building together.”
The launch also marks the start of the Dazzling Daffodils festival, when visitors are invited to explore the castle’s gardens at the height of the spring display. Across the estate’s 120,000 daffodil plants, more than a quarter of a million golden blooms are expected to appear during the event.
Highlights of the week include guided tours of Anne Boleyn’s Orchard, usually closed to the public, led by Miller and Walkers. The tours will showcase rare and historic varieties while offering advice on how gardeners can extend the daffodil flowering season at home.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy floral demonstrations, daffodil displays inside the castle itself and workshops with florist Emma Fuller-Wilke.
On the final day of the event, the gardens will host the Plant Fairs Roadshow, bringing together 19 specialist nurseries from across the UK offering seasonal plants, bulbs and shrubs.
According to Miller, the festival reflects the estate’s ambition to become a leading destination for daffodil lovers.
“We have daffodils blooming here from December all the way through to May,” he said. “Thanks to the careful selection of varieties and the work we’ve done with Johnny over the last eight years, we really believe Hever is becoming the home of the daffodil.”
The Dazzling Daffodils event runs at Hever Castle & Gardens from 16th to 22nd March 2026, celebrating both the history of the flower at the estate and the debut of its newest golden addition.
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Within the grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, there are two opportunities for you to stay the night with us.
Hever Castle has played host to many important events and celebrations for over 600 years. In 1903 when William Waldorf Astor set about restoring Hever Castle to its former glory, he added the Astor Wing, to accommodate his family and guests, before creating a lake and the spectacular Italian Garden to house his impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman statuary.
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Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, Hever Castle Golf Club is a 27 hole Kent golf course that will encourage and inspire all golf enthusiasts.
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